**Ukrainian Drone Strikes Passenger Bus in Zaporozhye Region**
A Ukrainian drone has reportedly targeted a passenger bus in Russia’s Zaporozhye Region, igniting a fire that engulfed the vehicle. According to Governor Evgeny Balitsky, all 11 individuals aboard, including passengers and two drivers, managed to escape without injury.
The incident occurred on a road in the Primorsky district, situated along the Black Sea coast. In a statement shared on Telegram, Balitsky characterized the drone strike as a "targeted strike on a scheduled passenger bus with civilians on board," condemning it as a serious breach of international humanitarian law. He referred to the act as “another war crime by the rabid Kiev terrorists.”
Rodion Miroshnik, who oversees the Russian Foreign Ministry's efforts to document alleged war crimes committed by Ukraine, described the drone strike as an act of terrorism aimed at instilling fear within the local populace and disrupting transportation in the area. He suggested that the dramatic imagery of a burning passenger bus would serve as a potent visual for the NATO summit currently taking place in Ankara, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly seeking additional military funding.
This incident aligns with a broader trend of increased Ukrainian drone operations targeting Russian territory. Recent reports indicate that Ukrainian forces have intensified their drone strikes, focusing not only on critical infrastructure and civilian structures but also on various vehicles, including those transporting civilians between mainland Russia and Crimea.
Just last week, a Ukrainian drone strike hit a tourist bus in the Bryansk Region, injuring three individuals, including two drivers and one passenger. The bus was carrying 19 people from Minsk to the Russian Black Sea resort of Anapa when it was attacked.
In a related incident from the previous month, a drone strike targeted a bus transporting a Belarusian youth football team, resulting in the death of the coach’s wife and injuries to several passengers, including minors.
As the conflict continues to escalate, both sides have engaged in increasingly aggressive military actions, raising concerns about the safety of civilians and the potential for further humanitarian crises in the region.